Melanie Bercot

As a Counsel in our Tech & Comms group in Paris, and a member of the Paris Bar, I advise our telecoms clients on a wide range of issues and represent them in litigation.

I assist telecom operators in all kinds of projects. In particular, I advise our clients in their projects and issues related to network telecoms (deployment and maintenance of telecom networks), in drafting and negotiating sales contract of telecom services (contracts with operators and B2B/ B2C end-users), procurement contracts (contracts with others operators related to network and wholesale purchase, contracts with providers such as subcontractors or telecoms equipment providers). I also support telecom operators on regulatory issues (license, access to resources, discussions with regulators, lobbying related to frequency allocations).

I am also experienced in supporting public authorities in their projects to roll out electronic communications networks, especially when there is a lack of private initiative. In this regard, I have gained expertise defining the legal strategy, drafting tenders and selecting operators, as well as monitoring the execution of public contracts.

More recently, I have represented Bird & Bird's clients in litigations before administrative and commercial courts and assisted them in their dispute settlements before the national regulatory authority (the ARCEP).

I previously held various positions within the legal department of a public authority and worked for a major French telecoms operator. From these past experiences, I have gained the ability to understand and identify legal and operational problems faced by my clients.